Tributes for Sussex student killed in collision

A Sussex student has been laid to rest after dying in a car accident over Christmas.

Louise Clancy, 22, had been studying English and Sociology at Sussex on exchange from University College Cork.

Friends describe her as a “one in a billion girl.”

Louise died alongside her mother Geraldine Clancy, 58, after a two-car collision close to their home in Kilworth, Ireland.

It is understood the car in which the two women were travelling left the road upon impact and ended up in a tributary of the Blackwater River. The occupant of the other car was not seriously injured in the collision.

The accident happened on 22 December as Louise and Geraldine returned from Christmas shopping.Their funeral was held on 26 December.

Students in the School of English learned of Louise’s death via an email from Head of School Professor Tom Healy.

He said: “Louise was a bubbly, energetic young woman… we valued having Louise among us, even for so short a time.”

Louise was a keen poet, performing her work at several Students’ Union events at Falmer Bar and The Globe.Louise was also an aspiring journalist and had planned to write an article about erotic fiction for The Badger.

Louise was an active member of the Sci-Fi and Doctor Who societies at Sussex. The groups plan on holding memorial events for her soon.

Louise’s friend and Sussex Student George Overington said:
“Louise was a one in a billion girl, proud, smart, funny and made anyone around her feel loved and cherished.

“She would always see the best in people and would help them, and her dedication in what she loved made you love her even more.

“Even though I only knew her for a few months, I’ve never had such a connection with someone than I had with Louise, and Sussex just won’t quite feel the same without her, and my heart goes out to her father, brother and whole family.”

Two tributes written by University College Cork students have been published here.

Brendan Kearney describes Louise as: “one of the brightest and most brilliant people any of us here in UCC had ever had the pleasure to meet.

“She had a fiery spark that touched hundreds of people through her social endeavours. You could never ask for a better friend.”

Laura Joyce from University College Cork Mythology Society wrote:

“She was with us from the beginning and put her heart and soul into helping us grow as a community and a family. We thank you all at University of Sussex for giving her a home away from home and making sure that she was happy there.”

Welfare Officer Rianna Gargiulo said that those who had been affected by Louise’s death can access the Student Life Centre and the university’s free and confidential Counselling Service (email counsellingreception@sussex.ac.uk for an appointment).